Traffic signal



Aug. 25, 1925.

H. H. amass TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed March 12. 1925 iNVENTOR Harry H. Griggs A ORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 25, 1925.

UNITED STATES HARRY H. GRIGGS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL.

Application filed March 12, 1925. Serial No. 14,892.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY H. Graces, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traflic Signals, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in traffic signals and more particularly of the type operated manually.

An important object of my invention is to provide an illuminated safety platform for pedestrians when crossing the street, day or night, through heavy traflic either when the officer is in charge or is off duty.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a signal which is clearly visible during the day or at night.

Another object of my invention is to provide an illuminated trafiic signal device.

Another object is to provide protection for the operator of the signal from rain or sun and to provide sufficient illumination to clearly outline the operators figure during the day or night.

Another object is to enable the operator to be in a comfortable position to operate the device without being exposed to contact with wet streets and roads.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description of my invention progresses.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of the signal and support;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the signal and support taken at right angles to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross sect-ion taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the invention; and

Fig. 6 is a top plan vlew of a second embodiment thereof.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the shutter.

In the drawings Figs. 1 to 5 showing the preferred embodiment of my invention, I provide a safety platform or base 5 of sufficient area to permit the traflic oiiicer or operator of the signal and others to stand comfortably thereon. The platform is sufficiently elevated from the street or road surface to present a dry surface on which to stand.

A standard 6, secured at its lower end to the platform 5 extends upwardly to a height considerably above the operators head so that the signal device carried on the upper end of the standard will be in a line of clear vision to oncoming traific.

The standard is preferably formed of a hollow pipe through which a shaft 7 extends from above. This shaft extends within the standard to a point about midway thereof and is provided with an operating handle 8 which is screwed or otherwise secured to the shaft. This handle projects approximately at right angles to the shaft through an opening 9 in the standard. The opening 9 is of limited length and thereby limits the swinging of the handle 8 to about a quarter of a turn.

On the upper end of the shaft 7, I have secured a signal device which is pyramidal in shape, the apex being secured to the shaft 7 to revolve therewith when the handle 8 is moved.

The signal device consists of a pyramidal body portion 10 having four sloping sides A, B, (J and D provided with depending flange sections a, b, 0, and ml respectively. Two of the oppositely sloping sides A and B, are intended to bear the legend Stop in white letters on a red background to indicate to traffic approaching the signal that traffic is proceeding across the street and that traffic in the street should stop. The oppositely sloping sides O and D are intended to bear the legend Go indicating that traffic approaching these sides may proceed. In this instance the legend O0 is displayed in blue letters while the back-ground is white. The flanges a, b, 0 and d include a blue background carrying certain legends as Cross street safety platform, No left turn, Safety first, or the like in which the letters are white.

Electric lights 11 are provided in the upper portion of the signal body to illuminate the signal and also to throw light rays down upon the o'lficer or pedestrians.

Lights 12 are provided on the flange portions 04, b, 0 and d which also serve to illuminate the signal and oflicer at night.

The sloping sides of the signal may be of transparent colored substances such as isinglass, celluloid or glass including the legends above referred to. Or, if desired, the

ilililltit sides may be of opaque substance except for the legends carried thereby which may be stamped from the substance forming the side portions. In this event, the opaque substance would be painted in the colors outlined above while some of the stampedout sections could be covered with a trans parent colored plate.

Suitable electric connections may be made connecting the lights to a source of power, the feed wires being preferably carried within the standard 6. A lock switch 13 is provided so that the lights may be extinguished by the ofiicer by inserting a key therein. This type of switch is employed to prevent extinguishing of the lights by unauthorized persons.

Vihenever the tran'ic ofiicer is absent, day or night, a drop shutter 14 cuts out the words Stop and Go making them in visible and leaving only the plain red or white upper part illuminated, and the lower blue section with white lettering Cross streetSa-fety platform also illuminated. The shutter li is raised and lowered by means of a toothed link or rod 15 which has a gripping ring 16 attached to one end and i attached-at the other end to an extension 17 on the shutter 14. By pulling on the ring 16 the shutter may be raised and by engaging one of the teeth on the rod 15 with the edge of the opening through which the rod passes, the shutter may be adjusted to any desired position or may be entirely closed. The shutter 14 also serves to prevent snow or sleet from obscuring the legends either when the shutter is raised or lowered.

It will be seen, therefore, that I have provided a portable traffic signal device in which the signals may be easily displayed during the day as well as at night and that sufficient illumination is directed toward the operator of the device so that his figure will be properly outlined day or night.

It will be seen that the shape of the signal device provides a means of shelter for the officer against the elements such as rain, snow or sun.

It is also apparent that the platform will provide an illuminated safety platform for persons caught inthe middle of the street during a change in traflic direction or when the oilicer is off duty.

Fig. 6 illustrates a second embodiment of my invention in which a conical signal device is adapted to be secured to the shaft 7 and to rotate therewith similar to the signal shown in Fig. 3. In this form of my invention the signal is made up of sections A, B, C and D on which legends may be painted or stamped out as desired. The

combination of color and materials used in the form shown in Fig. 6 are similar to those described above in connection with Figs. 1 to 5.

In Fig. 6 I also show a sectional flange a, b, c and d depending from the sections A, B, C and D, respectively, of the conical signal.

Various changes may be made in the construction of the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim 1. In a traflic signal, a safety platform, a signal device rotatably mounted above the platform, and means for rotating said signal device, said signal comprising an umbrella-like body of transparent material having legends thereon of contrasting color, and shutter devices hingedly carried by the signal device to cover the legends thereon.

2. In a traffic signal, a safety platform, a signal device rotatably mounted above the platform, and means for rotating said signal device, said signal comprising an u1nbrella-like body of transparent material having legends thereon of contrasting color, and shutter devices carried by the signal device to cover the legends thereon, said shutter devices comprising hinged cover plates, and operating handles projecting through the body portion of the signal device.

3. In a traflic signal, a safety platform, a signal device rotatably mounted above the platform, and means for rotating said signal device, said signal comprising an umbrella-like body of transparent material having legends thereon of contrasting color, and shutter devices carried by the signal device to cover the legends thereon, said shutter devices comprising hinged cover plates, and operating handles projecting through the body portion of the signal device, said operating handles consisting of toothed bars for engaging the signal device body portion to maintain the shutter in a predetermined position.

4. In a traflic signal, a safety platform, a signal device rotatably mounted above the platform, and means for rotating said signal device, said signal comprising an umbrella-like body of transparent mate rial having legends thereon of contrasting color, and shutter devices carried by the signal device to cover the legends thereon, said shutter devices comprising hinged cover plates, and means for adjusting said cover plates in any one of a plurality of open positions.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 10th day of March, 1925.

HARRY I-I. GRIGGS. 

